WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (January 28, 2023) – Graduate student
Jess Broad posted her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 boards as No. 18 Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball defeated Wilkes University 57-36 Saturday in a MAC Freedom matchup at the Marts Center.
Junior
Elissa Nsenkyire had 14 points and six rebounds and graduate student
Amber Porrett pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Ducks, who won their second straight game in improving to 17-3 on the year and to 10-1 in conference play.
Brenna Babcok had 10 points to lead Wilkes, who dropped to 5-14 on the year and to 4-6 in the MAC Freedom. The Colonels alternated wins and losses over their last four games. The Ducks have won five of the six all-time meetings between the teams.
It was another strong defensive effort for the Ducks, who rank among the nation's leaders in field-goal percentage defense, held Wilkes to just 20.6% shooting, marking the fourth time the Ducks held an opponent under 25%. The Colonels' shooting woes were even more prevalent from behind the arc - Wilkes made just two of its 15 attempts from long range, the seventh time this year Stevens has held an opponent under 20% from 3-point range.
Broad paced the Ducks in the first half, scoring 14 of her game-high 18 points. The Morganville, New Jersey native shot 7 for 10 across the game's first 20 minutes as the Ducks built an early lead, one which they'd never relinquish.
After Porrett opened the game's scoring with a free throw, the Ducks scored on three consecutive possessions to take a 7-5 lead. Nsenkyire provided four of the six points in the sequence, sandwiched around a Broad jumper. Her free throws were followed by a 3-pointer as Nsenkyire outscored Wilkes 5-0 in building a three-point lead through the first quarter.
Babcock opened second-quarter scoring with a layup, but the Ducks again scored on three straight trips down the floor to open a seven-point lead. The Ducks allowed just three field goals by Wilkes in the frame and shot nearly 50% from the floor in building as much as a 14-point lead.
After a sluggish third quarter, the Ducks closed the game out in style outscoring the Colonels 19-8. The Ducks scored the first 10 points of the quarter, opening a 20-point lead after a fast-break layup from first-year
Sammy Shea and an Nsenkyire free throw. A free throw by first-year
Dorothy Loffredo and a layup by senior
Kaitlyn Rothwell secured the final margin.
Pivotal Point
- Leading by 10, Broad opened fourth-quarter scoring with her penultimate basket.
- Showing her skill on both ends of the floor, stripping Julianna Askins and rejecting a Babcock layup, leading to five points for the Ducks that pushed their lead back to a comfortable 17-point margin.
Inside the Numbers
- The Ducks posted a decisive 57-36 advantage on the boards, including a 16-13 edge on the offensive glass. Porrett's 11 boards brought her season total to 196 and she leads the conference with 9.6 rebounds per game.
- The Ducks held slim advantages in second-chance points (5-4) and points in the paint (20-18).
- Each team recorded five blocks. Senior Danielle Cornetta had three, while Broad finished with two.
- Broad also paced the team with three assists and four steals.
- Sophomore Lucy Alberici drew her second career start and finished with seven points and a pair of rebounds.
- Porrett went 1 for 1 from behind the arc for her first 3-pointer since Jan. 14, 2019.
Up Next
- Women's Basketball returns to Canavan Arena on Feb. 1 for a MAC Freedom matchup with FDU-Florham.
- The Ducks defeated the Devils 88-35 on Dec. 7 and have won the last nine meetings in the all-time series.
- Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.
Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
#AllRise
